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| Rick Thomas - Senior Pastor |
 Pastor Rick grew up in Dearborn Michigan, where he also met his wife Marilyn. He and Marilyn have been married thirty two years and have three children; Kristen, Ryan and Stephen.
Rick is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BA in history. Rick also received a Michigan certificate for teaching secondary education upon graduation. Rick did the bulk of his student teaching at Dearborn High School. Rick's theological training was completed through classes conducted by the Free Methodist Church of North America in Indianapolis, Indiana, Spring Arbor, Michigan, and Greenville, Illinois. Pastor Rick is an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church of North America and has been a member of the F. M. Southern Michigan Conference for 15 years. He has been the senior pastor at New Hope Church since 1992.
Having come from an agnostic position as a young man, Rick spent years investigating the information put forth in the Bible before becoming convinced of it’s truth and relevancy to today’s culture. He became a Christian at age 26 and within two years became a Bible Study leader and adult Sunday School teacher in his local church. A decade later, Rick responded to the call of God to leave secular employment and become a full time minister.
Today, Rick is an effective communicator who absolutely loves to share the truths and principles of the Bible. His favorite areas of theological study are apologetics and church history.
Pastor Rick also enjoys photography, traveling, reading, archeology, gardening, collecting books, sports and hiking. |
| Ranay Brown - Youth Pastor |
Pastor Ranay grew up in Clarkson, Michigan. She met her husband Dan in California, where she lived during her 20’s. Together with their two daughters, Karen and Nichole, they moved back to Michigan where they have been a loving family for 22 years.
Pastor Ranay is an ordained elder of the F. M. Church in the Southern Michigan Conference and is serving as the Youth Pastor at New Hope Church.
Prior to 1992, Pastor Ranay had no church background or religious experience. Her call to salvation and to ministry was divine intervention which has allowed her to faithfully serve God for the past twelve years. Pastor Ranay's story is a powerful testimony of the awesomeness of God and His miraculous life-changing power in the human heart.
In her spare time Pastor Ranay likes to garden, read books, pursue culinary arts, create new recipes, and most of all share her testimony with the "soul" desire that people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord. |
| Jeremy Laura - Worship Pastor |
 Jeremy grew up in Milan Michigan. While in high school he developed a passion for music and studied piano and voice for several years. At age 17, Jeremy committed both his life and musical talents to Christ.
Jeremy went on to study vocal performance at Western Michigan University and continued in voice, piano, and guitar studies at Spring Arbor University. In 2003, he produced his very first CD, “My Only Pride”. The single, “I Know A Man Named Jesus” was given an honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest-highly acclaimed national competition.
In August of 1999, Jeremy was married to his wife Jennifer whom he met at one of his many concerts. “She’s still my biggest fan”, he notes. In March of 2000, Jeremy and Jen came to New Hope Church when Jeremy took over the position of Worship Director.
Jeremy enjoys sports, southern cooking, movies and especially loves writing songs and playing the guitar, the piano and the blues harp.
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| Pattie Courtney - Care Pastor |
Pastor Pattie was born an Indiana Hoosier. She and her husband Larry met during their high school years and were married in 1984 and have been blessed with 4 children, Christy, Laura, Joey and Anna. They have been residents of Michigan and part of the New Hope family for over 20 years. She has served the Lord in a variety of ways during that time.
She received her call into full time ministry in 1992 and is now actively pursuing that call as a Free Methodist Conference Ministerial Candidate. She is currently serving as the Care Ministries and Small Groups Pastor. Along with a great team of Care ministers they meet the many needs of the congregation through visitation, care, meals, prayer, encouragement and spiritual refreshment. Her great love for the Lord and his people are taking her down the path toward Discipleship Ministry. She takes delight in seeing God's people growing in their faith and becoming all that God has made them to be, all to His glory.
Pattie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, writing, walking, Comerica Park (Go Tigers!!) and loving her church family...all mixed together with a splash of chocolate. |
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